In 2009 I pitched a Show about a Gardener and his Baby Vegetables to CBeebies. This was based on, The Vegetable Nannies a show I had written & toured for the past few years around the UK & Europe.
Subsequently the idea was commissioned & was first transmitted in 2011. In its first year the show won the RTS North West award for Best Children's Programme & Ben Faulks was BAFTA Nominated for Best Performer. Subsequent recommissions & spin off series featuring Mr Bloom went on to provide over a hundred episodes with a variety of Mr Bloom appearances in other CBeebies & CBBC shows.
Mr. Bloom's Nursery
In each episode, Mr Bloom and his Veggies are visited by a group of children - known as 'tiddlers' - who help out around the allotment. The core theme of the show is nurture, in both gardening and child development. I worked on the show as developer, creative, writer and actor.
Series 1 – 26 x 15 minute episodes, 2011.
Winner R.T.S North West award for Best Children's Programme 2011. BAFTA Nominated for Best Performer 2011, Ben Faulks.
Series 2 – 26 x 15 minute episodes, 2012
Nominated R.T.S North West award for Best Children's Programme 2012. BAFTA Nominated for Best Performer 2012, Ben Faulks
Mr. Bloom’s NurserY:
Get, Set, Grow!
In their third series, Mr Bloom and the Veggies took their travelling fete around the UK. The episodes centred around Fete activities as well as Mr Bloom and the Veggies going on ‘expeditions’ to meet tiddlers in their local environments.
24 x 22 minute episodes, 2013
Nominated for a BAFTA & R.T.S award for Best Pre-school Live Action Show in 2013.
Mr Bloom: Here and There
Mr Bloom: Here and There features tiddlers who have invited Mr Bloom to come visit their area, so they can tell him why they love where they live. There were no Veggies in these series. Instead, the children’s stories take front seat, with more of a focus on the facts than emotional narratives.
Series 1 – 20 x 12 minute episodes, 2014
Series 2 – 20 x 12 minute episodes, 2015
Nominated for an R.T.S Northwest Award, 2014